What program should be downloaded to flash the phone. A selection of programs for firmware android. Why flash a mobile phone

12.12.2021 Drugs

Category: Firmware

Firmware for a smartphone, the same Android that you use, is an operating system for your phone. Just like Windows for a computer. If it crashes, then we see on the screen an endless download with the logo of Android or the manufacturer of the phone. There are a lot of reasons why the firmware flies - it is a viral infection, and a short circuit at the moment the gadget is connected to a computer or charger. Initially unsuccessful (crooked) firmware, the phone slows down a lot due to a large number of junk files that cannot be deleted in any way. There are 3 main ways of flashing.

  1. With the help of a special program.
  2. Through Recovery (more complicated method).
  3. Individual instructions for a specific phone model (some models cannot be flashed in the usual way, you need to look for information in more detail on special forums).
Important: flashing is the complete removal of all information from a smartphone and installation of a clean OS, so you need to take care of a backup (if possible).
Be extremely careful when flashing your phone or tablet, it is important to follow the instructions for a specific program and phone model exactly. Attempts to reflash the phone by an inexperienced user can turn it into an expensive "brick".
In this article, we will analyze the 3 most common programs for replacing in a cell phone running Android, software through a computer.

# 1: SP Flash Tool

SP Flash Tool is a universal program for flashing Chinese smartphones and tablets running Android with MTK-based processor for Windows and Linux operating systems. With this program, you can install a custom version of the OS that will improve the performance of your phone, add support for gaming products, and much more. Opportunities:
  • Convenient and intuitive interface.
  • Supports almost all famous smartphones with MTK processor.
  • Detailed instructions, with the help of which even a beginner can cope with it.
  • Compatible with operating systems Windows 10, 8, 8.1, Vista, XP.

# 2: Adb RUN

Adb RUN is a universal program with which you can flash almost any Android phone. For flashing via Adb RUN, you need the smartphone itself, connected to the computer via a USB cable. Adb RUN program, a firmware file for your device and drivers for a smartphone.
Main advantages: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9OVMEcaXx4
  • Works with USB debugging enabled.
  • Automation of commands and actions when the user accesses the console.
  • Simple pseudo-interface for the console.
  • Contains required commands that do not need to be entered manually. There are 14 teams in total. Working with the program consists in selecting a command (number) and confirming with the Enter key.
  • Unlocking the pattern, pin codes and face-codes of Android.
  • Unlocking bootloader of HTC phones.
  • Unlock bootloader Nexus and Sony.
  • Installing and replacing the animation that is played when the phone is turned on.
  • Creating a backup (Backup).

# 3: ODIN (Samsung)

ODIN is the official program for flashing smartphones from Samsung. Designed only for Samsung gadgets running Android.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYSelN2UYA8 ODIN Capabilities
  • Allows to flash almost any Samsung smartphone (80% of smartphones are perfectly sewn).
  • The ability to restore the bootloader (the bootloader that is responsible for loading Android and all programs, analogous to the Windows bootloader).
  • The ability to flash the modem if there are communication problems or to change the operator.
  • The firmware is done by replacing the system or upgrading to a higher version. In rare cases, a 4-file firmware is used, when it is necessary to resurrect the phone (return it to its original factory state) if it has caught a "brick".
  • Android smartphones and tablets are the most common mobile devices among users around the world. Flagship and related devices often work stably and flawlessly, but budgetary and obsolete ones do not always behave properly. Many users in such situations decide to perform their firmware, thus installing a more recent or simply improved (customized) version of the operating system. For these purposes, without fail, it is required to use one of the specialized programs for the PC. The five most demanded representatives of this segment will be discussed in our today's article.

    Smart Phones Flash Tool is a relatively easy-to-use program for working with smartphones and tablets, the "heart" of which is a processor manufactured by MediaTek (MTK). Its main function, of course, is the firmware of mobile devices, but in addition to this, it contains tools for backing up data and memory partitions, as well as formatting and testing the latter.

    Users who first turned to the SP Flash Tool for help will certainly be pleased with the extensive help system, not to mention the abundance of useful information that can be found on thematic sites and forums. By the way, the site also has quite a few "live" examples of flashing smartphones and tablets on Android using this multifunctional application, and above is a link to detailed instructions for working with it.

    QFIL

    This tool for flashing mobile devices is a component of the Qualcomm Products Support Tools (QPST) software package, aimed at specialists - developers, service center workers, etc. QFIL itself, as can be understood from its full name, is intended for smartphones and tablets, which are based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. That is, in fact, this is the same SP Flash Tool, but for the opposite camp, which, by the way, occupies a leading position in the market. That is why the list of Android devices supported by this program is really huge. These include the products of the well-known Chinese company Xiaomi, but we will tell you about them separately.

    QFIL has a simple, easy-to-understand graphical interface even for an inexperienced user. Actually, often all that is required of him is to connect the device, specify the path to the file (or files) of the firmware and initiate the procedure for their installation, which, upon completion, will be written to the log. Additional features of this "flasher" are the availability of a means of creating backups, redistributing memory partitions and restoring "bricks" (often this is the only effective solution for damaged Qualcomm devices). It also has some drawbacks - the program does not have protection against erroneous actions, which is why, unknowingly, you can damage the device, and to work with it, you will need to install additional software.

    Odin

    Unlike the two programs discussed above, focused on working with the widest possible range of mobile devices, this solution is intended exclusively for Samsung products. Odin's functionality is much narrower - it can be used to install official or custom firmware on a smartphone or tablet, as well as to flash individual software components and / or sections. Among other things, this software can be used to restore damaged devices.

    Odin's interface is made in a fairly simple and intuitive style; even a user who first launched this software tool can figure out the purpose of each of the controls. In addition, due to the high popularity of Samsung mobile devices and the "suitability" of most of them for firmware, on the Internet you can find quite a lot of useful information and detailed instructions on working with specific models. Our site also has a separate section dedicated to this topic, a link to it is presented below, and above is a guide to using Odin for these purposes.

    XiaoMiFlash

    A proprietary software solution for flashing and restoring, aimed at owners of Xiaomi smartphones, of which, as you know, there are quite a few in the domestic space. Some mobile devices from this manufacturer (those based on Qualcomm Snapdragon) can be flashed using the QFIL program discussed above. MiFlash, in turn, is intended not only for them, but also for those based on the Chinese brand's own hardware platform.

    Hello everyone, dear readers and users of mobile gadgets based on the Android operating system. Today I decided to touch on a very interesting and controversial topic, then I will explain why, which is very poorly covered in Runet. We are talking about a full-fledged selection of programs for flashing mobile gadgets on Android via a PC.... The reasons for flashing and flashing can be different:

    1. For example, you don't like how your firmware version works on the device;
    2. You do not like the appearance of the firmware version installed on your Android gadget;
    3. We decided to just experiment with different firmware and choose the most suitable and beautiful firmware for ourselves and our device.

    After wandering the Internet, unfortunately, I could not find a complete collection on this topic. I had to collect information bit by bit.

    Important: if you know any working PC program for the correct firmware of an Android gadget, then I would be grateful if you share its name, or better, a link to it in the comments to this post. Together, we will compile an excellent and working list of programs for flashing a gadget from a PC.

    So, now I will give a list of programs on a PC and not only that I managed, albeit with difficulty, but to find.

    This computer program, according to the developers, can easily cope with the firmware of any gadget based on the Android operating system. Of the features that we managed to find, I would like to note the following, in my opinion, the most deserving of attention:

    1. For a successful firmware, you need the following: PC, Android mobile gadget, USB cable for connecting the gadget to a PC, a firmware file that can be downloaded on the Internet, the program itself;
    2. The firmware process is quite simple, at least the process I found describing. The program can do the job well.

    Another program for flashing your Android gadget from a PC. Honestly, the firmware process using this program looks a little tricky... I will note the following interesting, in my opinion, features and capabilities:

    1. This program can be found on the Internet as part of other software packages, for example: Android SDK or Adb Run or separately from them;
    2. The firmware process is carried out through the command line on your computer, so it will be difficult for a beginner to understand this issue.

    And finally, one more program to help you with Android firmware via PC. To be honest, it aroused great suspicion in me, because is installed not on the computer, but on the device itself. The features are as follows:

    1. As I said above, this application is used from the device itself;
    2. The firmware is installed on the internal memory of the device from an external memory - SD card.

    Today I have everything, I want to emphasize once again that this is a list of computer programs for flashing through a computer, and not instructions for using these programs. So keep that in mind. There are questions, additions or comments on this topic of firmware via PC, then leave them in the comments... See you in the next, undoubtedly useful materials, collections and lessons.

    Flashing the tablet through a computer is not particularly difficult, so you shouldn't have any problems working in this program. But, in order to prevent any mistakes, after which you have to carry your tablet or smartphone to a workshop or service center, you need to study the instructions for firmware using Odin. Before starting work, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with a certain list of rules, which, of course, must be strictly followed.

    Flashing an Android tablet via a computer using the Odin program

    1. First, make sure the device is there. This will prevent a sudden power outage of the machine.
    2. Secondly, also take care of the power supply of your computer, which should also run smoothly.
    3. Never pull out the USB cable while the firmware is being installed. In addition, use only the cord that came with the device (i.e. the original one). Otherwise, there is a risk of damage to the device or even breaking it.
    4. You should not use the Kies utility for a number of reasons:
    • Sometimes the firmware files are not fully downloaded from Samsung servers.
    • Due to such a low-quality procedure, your device may.

    The path to the firmware file should not have attachments whose names are written in Russian. That is, you can, for example, specify: D: Samsung. But you cannot use a path like: D: folder.

    The main rule of the program: it allows you to flash only Samsung devices.

    What other information do you need to have before performing basic operations? Don't think that you are already ready. In addition to these rules, you need to familiarize yourself with the preparatory part of the work.

    First, let's tell you a little about the firmware itself. They are single-file and multi-file. There is probably no need to specify this point. They have extensions like tar and tar.md5. This point is also worth paying attention to.

    Do not forget that first you need to download the official firmware file for your device. How to do this, we will describe below. You will also need PC compatibility drivers. And the main guest of today's event is the Odin program itself. The recommended and most stable versions of this software are version 1.85 or 3.07. Another very important point: in no case use the Russified version, which can often be found on the Internet.

    Where to download the firmware

    1. samfirmware.com
    2. sampro.pl
    3. samsung-updates.com
    4. live.samsung-updates.com

    Please note that SER firmware is for Russia and the CIS, and SEK is for Ukraine and the CIS.

    If you cannot find the required firmware on the above sites, then you should use the simple Samsung Firmware Linker program.

    Instructions

    Now you are definitely ready to use Odin. And if you followed the previous instructions, then proceed to the next steps:

    1. We enter the Samsung device into bootloader mode. To do this, turn off the device, then simultaneously press the power button, volume down and center and hold it until the menu appears on the screen. Then press the volume up button.
    2. Now we connect our Samsung to the PC and wait for the driver installation to complete.
    3. We go into Odin and see that the device connection window appears in the upper left corner.
    4. Now you can add firmware files to our program. How to do it?

    So, if you have a single-file firmware, then insert it into the PDA field. For multi-file - by clicking on the appropriate buttons:

    You do not need to check the boxes and change anything unnecessarily.

    1. After selecting the firmware, click on the START button. This process will take some time, after which the word PASS will appear in the window, which means that the firmware has been installed and the device will be rebooted. You can disconnect your device from the computer. This completes the operation - the firmware installation is over.

    Some problems and solutions

    It may happen that after such a procedure you have some problems or problems that must be solved without fail.

    1. Eternal reboot of the device after the firmware. It is necessary to produce (otherwise called Wipe).
    2. An error in the program with the message:

    SetupConnection ..

    Can't open the serial (COM) port.

    All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

    Read in this article how to flash Android through a computer. How to flash a smartphone, what is phone firmware on Android, why is it needed - common questions from novice users who first encountered problems on a device controlled by a "green man".

    As a rule, flashing comes to the aid of users whose gadgets refuse to work or are unstable. With the proliferation of Android devices from China that cannot boast long-term manufacturer support, third-party firmware has become popular, allowing you to update to the latest OS version. So that you do not get confused, let's go in order.

    What is Android flashing, why is it needed

    The term "flashing" itself began to be widely used with the filling of the market with smartphones running Android OS. The newly minted system opened up a bunch of possibilities for the user, including openness, which allowed everyone to change Android at will.

    You can reflash not only a smartphone, but also a regular mobile phone - they also work on the OS, albeit a simpler one.

    What does the term “flash Android” conceal? Any modern smartphone, as we have already indicated, runs on an operating system (a set of software tools that ensure the correct operation of the hardware), which is characterized by errors, glitches and other problems. The OS of the phone can also crash, just like Windows on your computer. And in this case, the way out is to reinstall the system or flashing.

    However, flashing can fix not only errors. Installing a new firmware brings updates that ensure the stable operation of the smartphone, and often make the process of interaction between a person and a device more understandable and enjoyable.

    Firmware can be divided into two classes:
    • Official (stock). Firmware produced by the manufacturer of the Android device. Since they are developed specifically for a specific model, the likelihood of errors during flashing or during operation is minimized.
    • Third-party (custom, unofficial). Firmware developed by common users or small groups. Android is taken as a basis (the OS is open, so everyone can work with its program code), which is subsequently updated. Third-party firmware does not guarantee perfect performance on your device; it may contain various errors that the developer has not noticed.

    Unofficial firmware, as a rule, is developed for which have not acquired localization of the system in other languages ​​or do not receive updates. Developers are especially interested in inexpensive devices with good hardware, which are popular among users.

    How to upgrade a smartphone to Android?

    There are several fairly simple ways.

    • OTA-update... In fact, this is not a firmware. You just update the OS version using the standard device tools. The process is very simple, moreover, we have already talked about it in detail,. The only thing worth noting is that not every smartphone receives updates "over the air", and the owners of models from little-known companies may never see them at all.
    • Flashing using a smartphone... Using only a smartphone and a couple of applications, you can easily install a new firmware downloaded from an official or unofficial resource. The method is quite simple, but you should first familiarize yourself with what we have already written about.
    • FlashingAndroidthrough a computer. The way to flash Android, which we will talk about today. It is, let's say right away, somewhat more complicated than those presented above. But it offers much more options.

    Before reflashing

    Let's not rush. To begin with, you should warn against possible undesirable consequences and some of the nuances that may arise when flashing Android through a computer.

    Data backup

    The very first thing you should do is back up your important data. Necessarily! During the flashing process, absolutely all files from the device's memory will be deleted. Therefore, save the necessary information in advance on a personal computer or in the cloud storage in order to quickly restore everything later.

    Backup copy of installed firmware

    It will not be superfluous to make a backup of the system itself, so that in case of problems during the flashing, there is something to recover from. To create an OS backup, the simplest tool is the one we already wrote about.

    High quality wire, fully charged battery

    Quite often, the reason for errors in the process of flashing Android through a computer is a poor-quality USB cable, bought for a few cents. It is not uncommon for a smartphone to not be detected by the PC at all due to a bad wire. Therefore, we recommend buying a high-quality cable in the store, but more expensive.

    Be sure to charge your smartphone battery to 100%. The firmware may take a long time and the power supply from the USB port is inconsistent.

    Possible problems

    Remember! You are doing the flashing at your own peril and risk. This process, although not so complicated, is often accompanied by errors that can lead to the inoperability of certain functions of the smartphone or oskirpichivaniya (complete failure). Although most of the problems that arise can be corrected, some cannot be treated even at service centers.

    Be careful when flashing. It will be very useful to first familiarize yourself with the forums where users share what can destroy your particular device. Feel free to clarify the nuances that you do not understand.

    The market is filled with all sorts of different Android devices, so it is difficult to predict what errors might occur in your particular case. The reasons may be incorrect user actions, "clumsy" third-party firmware, problems with the cable, drivers, and so on.

    Reflashing your device will void the manufacturer's warranty.

    If you are not confident in your abilities, then it is better to contact the service center. Experts with a guarantee will reflash your device, and you will not have to read the article further.

    How to flash an Android device through a computer

    So, the readers who were scared of possible problems dropped out, and we are moving from theory to practice.

    USB debugging mode and required drivers

    First, let's take a smartphone or other Android device in hand to activate the "Debugging via USB" mode. This is done so that the computer was able to make changes for the device connected via USB. So, the instruction:

    1. first of all, we will acquire developer rights so that a special menu in the settings becomes available to us;

    To access the developer menu, you need to make multiple clicks on the "OS version" item. It is located in the "About phone" section (the very last item in the device settings).

    1. after the rights are obtained, go to the "Developer menu", which will appear in the settings;
    2. here we find the item "Debugging via USB", make the switch opposite to it active.

    The smartphone can be put aside. Let's move on to the drivers that come in handy for flashing Android through a computer.

    The drivers for each device are different. You can download them on the official website of the manufacturer or on one of the forums.

    To install drivers:
    1. connect the device to the computer;
    2. go to the "Device Manager" (use the search or find the section in the "Control Panel";
    3. find the item with the name of your device (the smartphone or tablet may not be detected by the system, in this case a line with an unknown device will appear, next to which there is a yellow triangle);
    4. right-click to bring up the context menu for this device;
    5. select "Update driver" from the list;
    6. click on the item "Search for drivers on this computer";
    7. then click "Select a driver from the list of already installed";
    8. by clicking the "Have Disk" button, specify the path to the downloaded drivers;
    9. restart your PC and smartphone for the changes to take effect.

    The smartphone driver alone is often not enough. For a number of devices, additional USB port drivers have to be installed in order for the PC to detect them. In addition, numerous machines require an ADB tool to be installed.

    Android Debug Bridge is a console application that is used to control Android devices through a personal computer.

    Returning to the fact that there are countless devices on Android, you have to download a whole bunch of special software for individual devices. The list of software can be found on the official websites of manufacturers or on thematic forums dedicated to flashing your specific gadget.

    Programs for flashing Android through a computer

    We come to the choice of software that we will use directly to install the firmware on a smartphone or tablet. For these purposes, a whole bunch of programs are presented, but they can all be divided into two broad groups:

    • Software for flashing certain models. Proprietary software released by companies exclusively for their devices. Almost every major manufacturer offers a free version for download. Programs for flashing certain models provide a quick and error-free installation of a new firmware, in addition, they have additional tools that will allow you to make a system backup and rollback in case of critical errors. Similar software was presented by the following companies: Samsung (Odin); Lenovo (Flash Tool); HTC (Fastboot); LG (KDZ Updater); Sony (Flashboot); Nexus (Fastboot).
    • Universal software for firmware. Programs that can be used to flash any Android device. There are also a lot of them, but the possibilities are about the same. The most popular tools are QFIL and SP Flash Tool: the first for flashing devices with Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, the second for Mediatek.
    Unlock Bootloader

    Many smartphones, so that the user cannot freely make changes to the system, are presented with a locked Bootloader (bootloader). Bootloader is a special program that is responsible for accessing the kernel. From which we conclude that while it is blocked, we will not be able to flash anything.

    Unlocking Bootloader is done using special software, which is provided by the manufacturer with the necessary instructions. As a rule, it all boils down to installing a special program (for example, for HTC - Bootloader Unlock), activating the USB debugging mode on the smartphone (it is described just above how to do this) and pressing just one button - “Unlock”.

    Choosing the firmware

    When all the drivers are installed, the bootloader is unlocked and the program for flashing Android through the computer has been downloaded, you can start choosing the firmware. It all depends on your device: there may be darkness or no firmware at all. There are several types of firmware:

    • Official. Presented by the manufacturer without any changes.
    • Informal based on official. Firmware that has been finalized by third-party developers, but the minimum changes have been made (language support added, bugs fixed, and so on).
    • Unofficial. There are also revised firmwares, which are simply crammed with a variety of features. They are developed on the basis of Android, they are ready to offer a bunch of new features, but they often contain bugs. The most famous of them are CyanogenMod, Lineage OS, OxygenOS and others.

    You can download firmware on official websites, forums and other resources.

    As we have already noted, the principle of operation of all programs for flashing is approximately the same. We will tell you more about the firmware using the SP Flash Tool.

    We remind you once again that SP Flash Tool is a tool for flashing only devices with processors from Mediatek. You can find out which chip your smartphone has on the manufacturer's official website or using special applications (AIDA64 and similar).

    So, we do not connect the smartphone yet, we work only with the program on a PC:

    1. unpack the firmware, if it is in the archive (it is better to do this in the root of the C drive);
    2. run the SP Flash Tool (recommended as administrator);
    3. specify the path to the scatter file by clicking on the "Scatter Loading" button, which is located in the right part of the window (the file is located in the folder with the firmware, the name ends like this - emmc.txt);
    4. necessarily uncheck the Preloader item (if your device runs on an MT6575 or MT6577 processor, then uncheck the dsp_bl item as well);
    5. select Download Only from the list;
    6. press the Download button, next to which there is a blue or green arrow icon (depending on the version of the program);
    7. only now we are connecting the Android device to the computer without using any adapters - only one wire;

    The device must be turned off.

    1. the program will start searching for a smartphone (if it does not find it, remove and insert the battery; if the device has a non-removable battery, then disconnect and reconnect the cable);
    2. after identifying the device, the flashing process will begin, which may take a long time;

    Do not disconnect the device from the computer!

    1. we are waiting for the appearance of a window with a green circle;
    2. only now we disconnect the device from the computer and try to turn it on.

    The first launch process can take quite a long time (about 10 minutes), just wait.

    In approximately the same way, devices are flashed with other programs. However, do not neglect the instructions for use. Study them thoroughly, only then proceed with the firmware.

    Conclusion

    Flashing an Android device via a personal computer is a rather difficult task, with a lot of nuances, but it can be done even by beginners. The main thing in this business is not to lose sight of every moment, so that afterwards you do not look on the Web for how to reanimate a brick. Take your time, carefully study the instructions specifically for your smartphone, since there are a lot of them on the Internet, and figure out the sequence of actions. Well, we can only wish you good luck with the flashing!